Massage device



April 27, 1-937. w. A. HARDMAN MASSAGE DEVICE Original Filed July 2l. 1933 NVENTOR WlerA. Hidwab In., l.

, E a A s@ WITNESSES Patented Apr. 27, 1937 Walter A. Hardman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 21, 1933, seriaiNo. 681,601 Renewed March 12,-1937-- 8 Claims., (Cl. 12S-300) This invention relates to improvements in massage devices, and its objects are as follows:-

First, to provide a suction cup of yieldable material which is so reinforced as to support it against collapsing and expandingactions respectively at its bottom and open end and at the same time avoid any impedimentv to the entirely free iiexing action of said open end during the operation of massaging.

10 Second, toA provide a suction cup which has a more or less rigid foundation structure with re' spect to which the cup itself, which is of yieldable material, is so assembled as to be susceptible to free flexing and adaptation of the contacting bead at the open end to the body contours, said open end in particular being loosely held by a part of said foundationstructure so as to enable the foregoing iiexing and adaptation.

Third, to provide a massage device in which a band and a handle constitute a stiff foundation on and in which the suction cup of yieldable material is assembled, the open end of the.

cup being loose with respect to the band.

Fourth, to provide .a massage device in whichv the suction cup of yieldable material is loosely held by the rigid band and which contains a,

ted in the contacting part of its annular bead" to provide a means for readily venting the cup as brought out below.

Sixth, to provide a massage device more in the nature of a pulling cup which is primarily adapted to pull the scalp away from the skull and overcome the tendency toward adhesion.

Other objects and advantages will: appear in the following specicatiom reference being had' to the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 isa longitudinal section, partially in side elevation of one form of the massage device.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the handle taken on the line 2`2 of Figure'l. Figure 3 is an inverted planview of the device, looking at it from thel open. end' ofthe cup; Figure 4'is. a vertical section of a secondform ofjthe device whichV is primarily: adapted. to pully ing functions..A Y Figure 5 is a detail sectional viewV of the upper partv of the cup of the type-in Figure 4, illustrating a modiiied1 mode of attaching the bail to the neck.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the open4 end of a cupof the type in Figure 4, 5. illustrating an internal reinforcement.

This application is a continuation in part of an application for'patent for massage device led by Walter A. Hardman, January 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,170. The underlying purpose of the invention is that of massaging the human body, and an important functionA of it is that of a massaging device forV the scalp for the promotionl of thegrowth of hair. The last use, as well as the other uses, require the device to be freely adaptable to undulations and uneven places sov that a perfect skin contact can be maintained throughout the operation of the device without causing'the person pain.

On the latter premise the massage device is 20 made to consist of a more or less rigid and. firm foundation structure, the qualitiesof rigidity and firmness being further necessary because of the high pressuresr'the device is required to support under the high degrees of sustained vacuum in- 25 tended to be established in growing hair. This structure carries a cup of yieldable or flexible, resilient material such as semi-soft rubber. This cup is capable of a limited amount of adapta-A tion or adjustment with respect to the founda- 302 tion s0 that its` contacting bead, or Whatever the nature of its contacting surface may be, can conform to the foregoing undulations and so maintain a vacuum seal-off throughout the massaging operation.

In the drawing, I designates a cup of yieldable or flexible, resilient material such as semisoft rubber. This cup has an arched bottom which terminates in a cylindrical portion 2 which is herein known as the open end of the cup. This open end is to be regarded as extending from the annular place or line of contact 3 throughout the zone 4 and up to an internal shoulder 5. The open end is supplemented by a peripheral bead 6. Immediately above the bead there is a groove 'I which goes almost all the way around (Fig. 3)V the open end 2.

An arched rigid liner 8 is fitted in the bottom of the cup I. This liner comprises a semi-spherical shell of non-reticulated material, that is to d sayit is not composed of wire netting which, unlessmade inordinately heavy, could not support pressure under the degrees of vacuum herein intended/to be used, and in practice it will be made of metal orsome equivalent' rigid material. The

edge 9 of the liner rests on the internal shoulder 5. It is shown as receding a little from the annular corner where the zone 4 merges into the shoulder 5. This provision insures against any possibility of the liner slipping off of the shoulder in the use of the device because the liner is inserted loosely in the bottom of the cup. Its purpose is to prevent the collapse of the cup upon withdrawal of air from the interior when the annular place 3 is in skin contact.

The handle is generally designated I0. This comprises a stem II made integrally with the extends from the zone 4 to the outer surface of a reinforcing bead I3. A tube I4 is fitted in the bore I2 and usually will be cemented in place although this is not essential. The tube communicates with the interior of the cup.4 It leads to a suitable device for creating a suction (not shown), for example a vacuum pump.

Each side of the stem Il is flanked by a strap I5 (Figs. l and 2) Usually these are flat straps. They include means I6 in the form of clips which are so applied to the stem II as to embrace it more or less, and so make a firm connection between the straps and stem.

The foregoing straps comprise the terminals of a rigid band I1. The band and the straps, as well as the clips I6, comprise one part. It is usually made of metal. The band is loosely received by the groove 1. Its inner edge I8 extends substantially to the place where the edge 9 of the liner 8 leaves off. In other words, the edges 9 and I8 are substantially on a level so that the band and liner are in non-overlapping relationship.

The liner 8 and band I1 constitute a rigid sheath. The liner 8 prevents collapse of the cup, as already stated, while the band I1 prevents spreading of the open end 2 when the cup is under outward atmospheric pressure in the use of the massage device. Notwithstanding the rigidity of the sheath the cup is not deprived of any advantage of its soft rubber construction because there is a break in the sheath between the edges 9, I8.

These edges are offset as shown, and the rubber cup is able to move, even though a little, by virtue of the fact that it continues unbrokenly in the passage between the liner 8 and band I1 and is loose with respect to these parts.

The action will be like thisz-Consider the cup I to be applied to the scalp and the suction pump in operation to withdraw air from the inside. The line of contact 3 will make a tight seal-off and enable maintaining the interior vacuum. The extent of the vacuum is subject to regulation at the pump. Now move the device around by means of the handle I0.

It is easy to understand that the lateral motions of the device will cause a certain amount of flexing of the open end 2 imparted thereto by the peripheral bead 6. The open end will ease off a little from the rigid band I1 enough to let the bead 6 move either down or up over the contour of the head thereby to maintain the seal-off at 3. There will be a certain amount of stretching and compression in the body of the rubber in the open end 2, and this will be transmitted to the rubber more or less immediately above the edge 9 of the liner 8.

The fundamental purpose is to loosely combine a soft, yieldable cup with a separated confining sheath structure to the ultimate purpose of enabling perfect adaptation of the rubber structure to the contour of the head or other part of the body. This leads back to the function of the handle I0.

From what has been stated, it is understood that the handle I0 together with the straps I5 and the rigid band I1 constitute a foundation with respect to which the soft, yieldable cup has limited free motion. This foundation structure is stiff. Even though the foundation structure is moved over a defined path through which the operator may direct it, the fact of the rubber cup being independently adaptable, will enable that Y ,i cup to adjust itself to an uneven body contour. cup I. Inside of the stem there is a bore I2 which Means for easily removing the massage device without necessarily having to operate a valve down at the suction pump comprises a slot I9 in the peripheral bead 6 and directed transversely thereof. This will be a small slot extending only vpart Way of the cross sectional contour of the bead. It will start substantially on the line of contact 3 and end somewhere inside of the open end 2. As long as the device is in such a contact with the body the slot I9 will remain closed. By lifting up a little on the handle I0 the device will be canted enough to expose the beginning of the slot I9 to outer atmosphere. When a little air is let into the cup the vacuum will be broken. It will be an easy matter to lift the cup off and apply it to a new place.

The second form of the device in Figure 4 is intended for a slightly different purpose than the first form in Figure 1. This form is adapted more for pulling the scalp away from the skull in one place than for a free movement over the scalp, although it may be used in free motion if desired.

Those parts in Figure 4 which are the same in structure and function as corresponding parts in Figure .1 are designated by corresponding numerals with the exponent letter a. Changes and additions are as follows1-The cup la terminates in a neck 20. This neck is an extension of the bottom of the cup. 'Ihe neck has a bore 2 l.

The liner 88L has a sleeve extension 22 which fits the bore 2l tightly. The sleeve has holes 23 to receive the inturned ends 24 of a handle 25. Instead of the handle being in the form of a single bail it may comprise a double arrangement with four inturned ends 24 fitting into as many holes 23. The handle 25, whatever its particular structure might be, is intended to be pulled upon, and the pull is transmitted to the liner 8ni by way of the sleeve 22 while the open end 22L is in contact with the skin at the line of contact 3a.

The part I1a is still broadly regarded as a band, but instead of its having an open part where the strap terminals branch off as in Figure 3, it is now in the form of a continuous ring. This ring, like the band I1, is rigid but is loosely contained by the groove 1a. As regards the liner 8a, only the nether part is loosely contained by the bottom of the cup because the necessity for free flexing of the rubber extends only over the liner approximately the distance bounded by 26.

Figure 5 is the same in all respects as Figure 4 excepting the mode of attaching the handle 25h. Its ends are secured by fastening means 28 which project from a ring 29 embedded in the neck of the cup. The fastening means may comprise bolts, rivets or any mechanical equivalent that will serve as a loose attachment for the handle to the ring.

Figure 6 is the same in construction as Figure 4, it being intended that the type of neck construction in either Figure 4 or 5 may be combined therewith, with the following eXc.eptions:-The ring 11 is tightly embedded in the groove 1.

The open end 2c is reinforced on the interior by a ring 30 which is embedded in a groove 3l. The grooves 10, 3| are situated back to back, the intervening rubber annulus of the open end 2c receiving the fastening means 32 which secures the two rings together so as to compose a rm reinforcement for the open end.

The particular purpose of the modification in Figure 6 is thisz--Remembering that the type of cup now under explanation is intended primarily for pulling purposes, it is conceivable that in pulling the peripheral bead 6 outwardly the slight stretch of the rubber might cause a break at some point along the line of contact 3. The metallic reinforcement of the open end, especially the internal ring 30, withstands that tendency to stretch and so imparts a measure of firmness to the bead 6c which will overcome any tendency to break a contact.

It is to be understood that the reinforcing rings do not deprive the open end 2c of all of its flexibility. A certain amount of stretching, adjustment and adaptation still obtains in the rubber region around the lower part of the liner 8c. This liner, as in the other forms, is loosely contained by the cup.

I claimt- 1. A massage device comprising a rigid band having strap terminals, a cup of yieldable material tted inside of the band with the band adjacent to the open end of the cup, said cup being unrestricted on its interior within the substantial zone of the band and through the remainder of the open end, a rigid liner in the closed end of the cup above the zone of said band, and a hollow stem on the cup communicating with the interior thereof and extending between the straps, and means to secure the straps to the stem.

2. A massage device comprising a rigid band having strap terminals, a cup of yieldable material fitted inside o-f the band with the band adjacent to the open end of the cup, said cup being unrestricted on its interior within the substantial zone of the band and through the remainder of the open end, a rigid liner in the closed end of the cup having its outer edge substantially on a level with the inner adjacent end of the band, a hollow stem communicating with the interior of the cup and located between the straps, and means to secure the straps to the stem.

3. A massage device comprising a rigid band having an open part, a cup of yieldable material fitted inside of the band with the band adjacent to the open end of the cup, said cup being unrestricted on its interior within the substantial Zone of the band and through the remainder of the open end, a rigid liner in the bottom of the cup, and a hollow stem in communication with the interior of the cup extending from the cup through the open part of the band.

4. A massage device comprising a rigid band having an open part, a cup of yieldable'material having a peripheral bead, said cup being fitted inside of the band with the band adjacent to the open end of the cup, said cup being unrestricted on its interior within the substantial zone of the band and through the remainder of the open end, a rigid liner in the bottom of the cup, a hollow stem in communication with the interior of the cup extending from the cup through the open part of the band, and a slot in the bead adapted to be closed upon contact of the bead with the skin of a. person.

5. A massage device comprising a hollow stem and a pair of straps combined with the stem to form a handle, an annular rigid band connected with the straps and extending away from the handle, a cup of yieldable material having a place at its open end adapted to contact the human skin, said cup being fitted inside of the band with the band adjacent tothe open end of the cup, and a rigid liner in the bottom of the cup, the interior of the open end being unrestricted from said place of contact to the beginning of said liner.

6. A massage device comprising a cup having an opening communicating with the interior, and a bead around the open end of the cup, said bead having a slot directed transversely of the bead and extending only part way of the cross sectional contour of the bead so as to be closed by normal contact of the bead with the skin.

'7. A massage device comprising a rigid band having an open part, a cup of yieldable material loosely fitted inside of the band with the band adjacent to the open end of the cup, said cupbeing unrestricted on its interior within the substantial zone of the band and through the remainder of the open end, a rigid liner loose in the bo-ttom of the cup, and a hollow stem in com- -munication with the interior of the cup extending from the cup through the open part of the band.

8. A massage device comprising a rigid band and a handle of which the band is a part, a cup of yieldable material which has an arched bottom Yand a cylindrical portion adjacent to its open end, said cylindrical portion being loosely tted inside of the band so that said cylindrical portion can ex, yield and otherwise adapt itself to uneven body surfaces without restriction by the band when the massage device is under pressure and wielded by the handle, and a rigid liner incorporated in the arched bottom so as to prevent the collapse of the bottom under pressure, there being means by which said liner is loosely held in said bottom so that the foregoing flexing and yielding of the cylindrical portion is not restricted.

WALTER A. HARDMAN. 

